Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
tuesday
I feel so inspired, totally blissed out! I took what was probably the most beautiful class I've ever been a part of Sunday evening with Danielle Koppel. We chanted, we did some vinyasa and we did some juicy restorative poses as well. Danielle has a voice like an angel and she sang to us throughout the restorative part. As we chanted 'om namah shivaya' over and over at the beginning of class, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and happiness. The kind of happiness and excitement that makes you want to scream, but the kind of peace that offsets the desire to scream. The walk home was cold and rainy, but I barely even noticed.
Yesterday was another amazing yoga day. I took a 6:30 am class and taught a class at the Murray Scholls 24 at 10:00. It was so last minute that I didn't get a chance to put it on my blog, but I was so happy to see some familiar faces from my 5:45 am class! After that, I took a restorative class at noon (Adult Nap Time), and then a new class at 5:30. We did some flowing to get warm, and then we played around with arm balances. It was so much fun, and finally for the first time I held bakasana with control. Bakasana (crow pose) is essentially the base pose for all other arm balances. Once you can master bakasana, there are so many different places you can go. Arm balances take infinite amounts of strength, something I've lacked for the majority of my life.
I may have talked about this before, but the asana part of yoga isn't something that came completely natural to me. Some people are naturally strong, naturally flexible, naturally balanced. You know how some people just seem to be good at whatever they try physically? That's not me. For pete's sake, I am most certainly not athletic in any sense of the word! So, like many other people, I've built my practice from the ground up. In my Saturday morning class last week, we worked toward astavakrasana (eight angle pose). We did lots of hip openers, hamstring stretches and twists throughout class, and when we were nearing the end of class I showed steps to getting into the pose, and asked that folks stop at their edge. I got a lot of "she's crazy" looks. Well, maybe I am, but I do know from personal experience that if you want something and you work for it, it will be yours. It's not enough to want it, but you've got to work for it as well.
For those of you who practice with me at 24, classes are canceled on Thanksgiving. I will be taking a flow class at YoYoYogi at 9 am and would love for you to join me. I am not sure of the exact rate, I think a drop in class is $14, but I also think this may be a donation based class. Not sure, but either way I think you should come roll your mat out next to mine! :)
Namaste,
Tami
Yesterday was another amazing yoga day. I took a 6:30 am class and taught a class at the Murray Scholls 24 at 10:00. It was so last minute that I didn't get a chance to put it on my blog, but I was so happy to see some familiar faces from my 5:45 am class! After that, I took a restorative class at noon (Adult Nap Time), and then a new class at 5:30. We did some flowing to get warm, and then we played around with arm balances. It was so much fun, and finally for the first time I held bakasana with control. Bakasana (crow pose) is essentially the base pose for all other arm balances. Once you can master bakasana, there are so many different places you can go. Arm balances take infinite amounts of strength, something I've lacked for the majority of my life.
I may have talked about this before, but the asana part of yoga isn't something that came completely natural to me. Some people are naturally strong, naturally flexible, naturally balanced. You know how some people just seem to be good at whatever they try physically? That's not me. For pete's sake, I am most certainly not athletic in any sense of the word! So, like many other people, I've built my practice from the ground up. In my Saturday morning class last week, we worked toward astavakrasana (eight angle pose). We did lots of hip openers, hamstring stretches and twists throughout class, and when we were nearing the end of class I showed steps to getting into the pose, and asked that folks stop at their edge. I got a lot of "she's crazy" looks. Well, maybe I am, but I do know from personal experience that if you want something and you work for it, it will be yours. It's not enough to want it, but you've got to work for it as well.
For those of you who practice with me at 24, classes are canceled on Thanksgiving. I will be taking a flow class at YoYoYogi at 9 am and would love for you to join me. I am not sure of the exact rate, I think a drop in class is $14, but I also think this may be a donation based class. Not sure, but either way I think you should come roll your mat out next to mine! :)
Namaste,
Tami
Sunday, November 21, 2010
yamas
The 5 Yamas (or observances, in English) are as follows:
I'm curious, which of these five yamas resonates most in your soul? Feel free to say just the word, or give an explanation as well. I love getting feedback and look forward to hearing from you!
- ahimsa (non-harming)
- satya (truth)
- asteya (non-stealing)
- brahmacharya (appropriate use of vital essence, or moderation)
- aparigraha (non-possessiveness)
I'm curious, which of these five yamas resonates most in your soul? Feel free to say just the word, or give an explanation as well. I love getting feedback and look forward to hearing from you!
sunday
I am sad to say that I will not be teaching any yoga classes this week. Although lucky for me, I already know what I'm going to do with all my extra time. Can you guess?
I am loving all these classes I've been taking recently. My spirit feels bright and renewed, and I am so excited to have three more weeks left of unlimited yoga at YoYoYogi. Thursday, after a not-so-strong practice, I decided to go back and take another class a little later in the day. It was called 'Rejuvenation Yoga', and I certainly did leave there feeling rejuvenated. It's so interesting, that morning I felt sore and weak, and that afternoon my practice was completely different. Just goes to show that there's no need to ever be discouraged by a practice that doesn't meet our expectations, because there's always another!
Friday night, I took a yin class appropriately titled 'yogaaaah'. I'd been looking forward to it all week, and it didn't disappoint. In yin yoga, poses tend to be pretty passive and are held for several minutes on each side. The idea is to stretch the connective tissue. So yummy!
It feels so good to be reconnecting with my personal practice. I'd been practicing at home and practicing along with my students during class, but there is definitely something to be said for your very own personal yoga practice. By reconnecting with my practice, I feel like I'm also reconnecting with myself. And what could be better than that?
I have a new play list that I've been using, but have yet to post. I will post it in full later, but it involves Radiohead, The XX, Sia, U2, The Album Leaf and Thievery Corporation to name a few.
I hope you've all had a splendid and most relaxing weekend!
Namaste,
Tami
I am loving all these classes I've been taking recently. My spirit feels bright and renewed, and I am so excited to have three more weeks left of unlimited yoga at YoYoYogi. Thursday, after a not-so-strong practice, I decided to go back and take another class a little later in the day. It was called 'Rejuvenation Yoga', and I certainly did leave there feeling rejuvenated. It's so interesting, that morning I felt sore and weak, and that afternoon my practice was completely different. Just goes to show that there's no need to ever be discouraged by a practice that doesn't meet our expectations, because there's always another!
Friday night, I took a yin class appropriately titled 'yogaaaah'. I'd been looking forward to it all week, and it didn't disappoint. In yin yoga, poses tend to be pretty passive and are held for several minutes on each side. The idea is to stretch the connective tissue. So yummy!
It feels so good to be reconnecting with my personal practice. I'd been practicing at home and practicing along with my students during class, but there is definitely something to be said for your very own personal yoga practice. By reconnecting with my practice, I feel like I'm also reconnecting with myself. And what could be better than that?
I have a new play list that I've been using, but have yet to post. I will post it in full later, but it involves Radiohead, The XX, Sia, U2, The Album Leaf and Thievery Corporation to name a few.
I hope you've all had a splendid and most relaxing weekend!
Namaste,
Tami
Thursday, November 18, 2010
thursday
Tuesday evening, after not having left the house for days due to illness, I decided to venture out and take a yoga class. I had one of those really strong practices that gave me a renewed sense of passion for my practice, and when class was over I found myself wanting more, so I signed up for a month of unlimited yoga at a studio near my apartment and immediately took a class. My energy was so high after taking these two classes, I felt like a virgin all over again! A yoga virgin, that is.
When I got home, I rolled my mat out and started practicing even more! I wasn't able to fall asleep until 1:00 because I was so excited... about yoga! I've been practicing for about 8 years, and I've definitely had my highs and lows. There are times when I feel really strong, an intense passion for my practice. Times when I dream about yoga, when I envision myself getting stronger with each breath and effortlessly floating in and out of challenging asanas. And there are also times when I feel discouraged, when I let myself get down. Sometimes I judge my own self for not being able to do certain poses, or get frustrated with my flaws (weak ankles, for one). The 'why can't I do that?' moments.
Over the past couple of days, I've found myself in this space where I'm experiencing both the highs and the lows of my yoga practice- at the same time. Tuesday evening something sparked inside of me, telling me exactly where I should be and what I should be doing. I decided to commit to taking a class (or two), in addition to my own classes that I teach, every single day for this next month. It seems like my mantra for the past month or so has been "push through and keep going". It's that time of year when the weather starts to change (cue the rainy season blues, and icky colds) and the holidays are quickly approaching, so what better time to commit to something so great?
This morning was my fourth class. Seven o'clock 'Breakfast of Champions' vinyasa. I didn't want to get out of bed, but since I teach very early classes three mornings a week I'm used to getting out of bed when I don't want to, and I know the feeling of just wanting to crawl back under the covers will pass. My mantra was repeating itself over and over in my head as I walked to class (perk of being a Portlander, we can walk everywhere!), and as I rolled my mat out on the lovely wood floor, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful view outside the window. Then I laid on my back and hugged my knees to my chest. I felt weak and I knew it. My arms are sore from countless chatturangas, my shoulders and upper back are sore from practicing astavakrasana (eight-angle pose) over and over, my legs are sore from warrior pose after warrior pose, and my core is sore from supporting my entire being throughout each practice! And on top of that, I am starting to feel like this cold I've been so valiantly fighting is rearing its ugly head again. As my mantra continues to play on in my head, another side of me shows up. The side that says, push through, but know when to take a break as well. During class I found myself getting annoyed with my body. Thanks to that ankle sprain I suffered a few weeks ago, childs pose (the place I'd normally come to rest) is uncomfortable. My arms felt like they were on fire every time I held plank and my hamstrings were screaming with every forward fold. I was upset with myself for having a weak practice. Eventually I surrendered to my needs and let myself rest. I came to my knees in plank, took childs pose with my toes tucked under instead of down dog, and even stayed there throughout a whole standing series. Of course I wish I'd felt better, but I'm realizing that while I had a weak physical practice this morning, mentally is was strong and rich with intention. I was there, and I was connected to my body and my breath. After class, the instructor told me he saw me taking care of myself and he was so glad that I did. It reminded me that when I am teaching, I too appreciate seeing students take breaks and honor their bodies, tailoring the practice to make it something that serves them in that moment.
I plan to keep you all posted on my month-long journey and hope that you will find some inspiration it it as well. I had the amazing opportunity to practice with Kathryn Budig back in the summer and she told me that I was exactly where I needed to be and was supposed to be in my practice, and I am here to say that SO ARE YOU! Whether you're just starting out, you're a seasoned practitioner or you're somewhere in the middle, you are right where you belong. Embrace it!
Remember that next week's schedule at 24 Hour Fitness is heavily modified, so if you plan on taking a class, check the schedule first!
Namaste,
Tami
When I got home, I rolled my mat out and started practicing even more! I wasn't able to fall asleep until 1:00 because I was so excited... about yoga! I've been practicing for about 8 years, and I've definitely had my highs and lows. There are times when I feel really strong, an intense passion for my practice. Times when I dream about yoga, when I envision myself getting stronger with each breath and effortlessly floating in and out of challenging asanas. And there are also times when I feel discouraged, when I let myself get down. Sometimes I judge my own self for not being able to do certain poses, or get frustrated with my flaws (weak ankles, for one). The 'why can't I do that?' moments.
Over the past couple of days, I've found myself in this space where I'm experiencing both the highs and the lows of my yoga practice- at the same time. Tuesday evening something sparked inside of me, telling me exactly where I should be and what I should be doing. I decided to commit to taking a class (or two), in addition to my own classes that I teach, every single day for this next month. It seems like my mantra for the past month or so has been "push through and keep going". It's that time of year when the weather starts to change (cue the rainy season blues, and icky colds) and the holidays are quickly approaching, so what better time to commit to something so great?
This morning was my fourth class. Seven o'clock 'Breakfast of Champions' vinyasa. I didn't want to get out of bed, but since I teach very early classes three mornings a week I'm used to getting out of bed when I don't want to, and I know the feeling of just wanting to crawl back under the covers will pass. My mantra was repeating itself over and over in my head as I walked to class (perk of being a Portlander, we can walk everywhere!), and as I rolled my mat out on the lovely wood floor, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful view outside the window. Then I laid on my back and hugged my knees to my chest. I felt weak and I knew it. My arms are sore from countless chatturangas, my shoulders and upper back are sore from practicing astavakrasana (eight-angle pose) over and over, my legs are sore from warrior pose after warrior pose, and my core is sore from supporting my entire being throughout each practice! And on top of that, I am starting to feel like this cold I've been so valiantly fighting is rearing its ugly head again. As my mantra continues to play on in my head, another side of me shows up. The side that says, push through, but know when to take a break as well. During class I found myself getting annoyed with my body. Thanks to that ankle sprain I suffered a few weeks ago, childs pose (the place I'd normally come to rest) is uncomfortable. My arms felt like they were on fire every time I held plank and my hamstrings were screaming with every forward fold. I was upset with myself for having a weak practice. Eventually I surrendered to my needs and let myself rest. I came to my knees in plank, took childs pose with my toes tucked under instead of down dog, and even stayed there throughout a whole standing series. Of course I wish I'd felt better, but I'm realizing that while I had a weak physical practice this morning, mentally is was strong and rich with intention. I was there, and I was connected to my body and my breath. After class, the instructor told me he saw me taking care of myself and he was so glad that I did. It reminded me that when I am teaching, I too appreciate seeing students take breaks and honor their bodies, tailoring the practice to make it something that serves them in that moment.
I plan to keep you all posted on my month-long journey and hope that you will find some inspiration it it as well. I had the amazing opportunity to practice with Kathryn Budig back in the summer and she told me that I was exactly where I needed to be and was supposed to be in my practice, and I am here to say that SO ARE YOU! Whether you're just starting out, you're a seasoned practitioner or you're somewhere in the middle, you are right where you belong. Embrace it!
Remember that next week's schedule at 24 Hour Fitness is heavily modified, so if you plan on taking a class, check the schedule first!
Namaste,
Tami
Friday, November 12, 2010
cancellations
Hi yogis! I'm just looking at my schedule for 24 Hour Fitness, and I've made a rather unfortunate observation: Most classes (including all of mine) are canceled for the week of Thanksgiving. If you're a member, please check the schedules carefully that week, as they have been heavily modified.
snack
Here's a recipe for a great pre/post-yoga snack!
- 2 large kale leaves (stalks removed)
- one cup of almond/rice/soy milk
- a little agave nectar
- one banana
- one apple (peeled, cored and sliced)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
teaching schedule
Hi friends! Recently, I haven't been as on top of my blog as I would like to be, and for that I apologize. Here's a little update: I spent the past few months teaching lots of classes for 24 Hour Fitness. In the last month or so, I have been blessed with some more teaching opportunities so I have been subbing less and focusing more on my new endeavors. But don't worry, I am not going anywhere and I plan on subbing more classes in the near future. For now, my regular schedule at 24 is as follows:
- Wednesday, 5:45am: (Murray Scholls)
- Wednesday, 7:30pm: (McLouglin)
- Friday, 5:45am: (Murray Scholls)
- Saturday, 7:00am: (Hollywood)
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